Our History

The ASCLD organization began to take shape in a meeting that occurred in 1973. In the fall of 1973, a small group of some thirty crime laboratory directors, geographically representing the country, met in Quantico, Virginia. Although called there by Clarence Kelly, then Director of the FBI, it was Briggs White, Director of the FBI Laboratory, who, by his desire to bring local laboratories and the FBI Laboratory together, made it all possible. At that meeting, a steering committee under the able chairmanship of Richard Fox, was formed and met in Kansas City in the spring of 1974. A constitution was drafted, and, in the fall of 1974, in Quantico at the first meeting, ASCLD was born. Chairman - Briggs White, FBI; Vice Chairman - Richard Fox, Missouri; Secretary - Atley Peterson, ATF; Treasurer - Larry Howard, Georgia. On February 18, 1976, ASCLD became ASCLD, Inc.Accreditation

ASCLD is not an accrediting body. Several years ago, a laboratory accreditation board was created within ASCLD to meet the needs of the criminal justice system and eventually incorporated as a separate and distinct non-profit entity. To the confusion of many, its name continues to reflect its origins and is known as The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors / Laboratory Accreditation Board, or ASCLD/LAB - usually pronounced azz-clad-lab by those in the profession.. You can visit their website at www.ascld-lab.org.